A popular disc jockey will spend Christmas in hospital as he waits for a new kidney after both of his kidneys failed three weeks ago.

And DJ Paul Sofianos pledged to spend the rest of his life raising awareness about the need for organ donation.

Speaking from his bed at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Mr. Sofianos said he was going to ?make it one of his goals in life to gain awareness about organ donation and get people to sign up for it.?

?I have been an organ donor for years myself and now I think it?s my mission to create awareness for the need for people to do that as well,? he said.

?Obviously through my job as a DJ and my local radio show, I have a different outlet and can get to more people,? he said.

?There are otherwise healthy people who have not signed up who should make an effort. It might not help me, but it could help someone else down the line.?

His wife, Shannon Sofianos said, her husband had been in KEMH ?just under three weeks? ago when both of his kidneys failed. ?He is on dialysis three days a week for three hours each day,? she said.

Mrs. Sofianos said her husband can get up and walk around, but was ?limited right now?.

?He can get up, but he has an infection in his arm that is slowing down the rest of his progress.?

He was admitted to KEMH just under three weeks ago and was at home when he began to feel very unwell, she said.

?He was at home for a couple of days prior (to his being admitted to hospital). He did not realise what was going on,? she said. Over a Sunday and Monday, he ?thought he had the flu or something?. But it was on Tuesday, when they ?discovered what was happening,? she said.

The DJ was in the intensive care unit for Tuesday and Wednesday night when he was ?put on dialysis right away?, she said. She said her husband was ?improving. He has his ups and downs, but he is making progress?.

Despite being a heavy man, Mrs. Sofianos said her husband?s weight had nothing to do with his illness.

?His weight is not related. He was diagnosed with kidney disease in August. We expected to see the effects (of the kidney disease) years down the road, not now. That is why it was such a shock when it did happen,? she said.

?He is going to need a transplant. Both kidneys have failed. He needs one good kidney,? she said.

When asked whether any of Mr. Sofianos?s relatives had been screened for a potential organ match, she said: ?it really is too soon to do any of that. But that will be the first step. We have to make sure the family members are well enough to give their kidneys. It works on both sides. We don?t want to injure anyone?.

But Mr. Sofianos said he had already ?been approached by seven people who have offered me their kidney?.

And the DJ?s father, Arthur Sofianos said ?obviously, the question of donorship is the most important factor. We are going to make an effort to make public awareness of it.?

Mr. Sofianos wanted to thank the staff at KEMH and the dialysis unit for being ?absolutely wonderful?.

Vice-president of the Bermuda Organ and Tissue Donor Association Glenda Daniels appealed to residents to sign up as donors over the festive season on Tuesday. She said it was the ultimate gift ? one that keeps on giving. Mr. Sofianos is one of the 23 people in Bermuda waiting for new kidneys. And she said 72 Bermudians and residents have received new kidneys since 1972.

One Bermudian had been on dialysis for 29 years.

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